School district may drop millage rate

Published: Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 07:13 PM.

PANAMA CITY — The tax rate funding Bay District Schools is expected to decrease slightly next fiscal year, Superintendent Bill Husfelt announced at the opening of the School Board meeting Tuesday.

Although final budget figures have not been approved, according to a Bay District Schools budget summary, millage rates may drop to 6.761 in fiscal year 2013-14 from the current year’s 6.858. The decrease will translate into $4.85 less per $50,000 on homeowner school taxes — that is, from $342.90 previously to $338.05.

“Right now, going down on the millage is something we think is a good thing for our community, for our taxpayers,” Husfelt said, touting “good budgeting” on the district’s behalf. “We’re just trying to be as responsible as we can with our budgeting.”

A 2013-2014 budget workshop will be held today at 5 p.m. at Bay District Schools office, 1311 Balboa Ave., in the School Board meeting room. A public hearing to make a decision on the tax rate will be Aug. 1.

Also at Tuesday’s School Board meeting, board members — though seemingly reluctant — approved a recommendation that would make Rutherford the only school in the district to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and Bay High the only school to offer the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program.

As faces stared downward in silence at the policy, School Board member Steve Moss asked: “Will other schools be able to offer … AICE or IB courses?”

PANAMA CITY — The tax rate funding Bay District Schools is expected to decrease slightly next fiscal year, Superintendent Bill Husfelt announced at the opening of the School Board meeting Tuesday.

Although final budget figures have not been approved, according to a Bay District Schools budget summary, millage rates may drop to 6.761 in fiscal year 2013-14 from the current year’s 6.858. The decrease will translate into $4.85 less per $50,000 on homeowner school taxes — that is, from $342.90 previously to $338.05.

“Right now, going down on the millage is something we think is a good thing for our community, for our taxpayers,” Husfelt said, touting “good budgeting” on the district’s behalf. “We’re just trying to be as responsible as we can with our budgeting.”

A 2013-2014 budget workshop will be held today at 5 p.m. at Bay District Schools office, 1311 Balboa Ave., in the School Board meeting room. A public hearing to make a decision on the tax rate will be Aug. 1.

Also at Tuesday’s School Board meeting, board members — though seemingly reluctant — approved a recommendation that would make Rutherford the only school in the district to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and Bay High the only school to offer the Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) program.

As faces stared downward in silence at the policy, School Board member Steve Moss asked: “Will other schools be able to offer … AICE or IB courses?”

“No,” Husfelt said. “That’s why we’re bringing the policy to you.”

Husfelt told board members a task force, headed by board member Ginger Littleton, has been charged with determining how and whether the policy should allow nondesignated schools to offer courses designed for advanced academic programs.

However, if undesignated schools do offer those courses, they will not be authorized to issue the diplomas associated with the programs, Husfelt said.

Moss later stated to board members that he wondered if it will just boil down to a “money thing.”

“Will (undesignated schools) want to offer the classes because they’re interested in the AICE program or [based on] the theory out there, that the AICE exam has a much higher pass rate than the (advanced placement) — hence, the school can make more money,” he asked.

Husfelt responded that it was “a money thing” and the task force will offer appropriate recommendations.

With unanimous approval of the recommendation Tuesday, now only Rutherford can offer IB courses and Bay can offer AICE courses.

“Change is hard, but that’s why we’re going through the process — to see if it’ll work,” Husfelt added.

Also, at the meeting:

l Board members officially approved updated school policy which bans electronic tobacco smoking devices and their use on school campuses.

l Board members approved a resolution that authorizes the district to take necessary actions to refinance a portion of an about $7 million of capital project debt, saving about $700,000.